Jimin walked in the locker room with his gym bag at hand. He held it close to him dreading class.

This was his worst class of them all. The boys weren't very nice to him. Jimin approached the corner and avoided all eye contact. He didn't try to speak to them unless he was noticed.

He nervously removed his shirt and took out his other one. "Look who we have here," a black haired guy said with a grin.

Jimin held his breath holding his shirt against his body tightly. "It's the spaz." Another said as the gathered around him.

"I'm just trying to change clothes." He replied quietly.

"I'm just trying to change clothes." One imitated in a whiny voice.

"Let us see your muscles, weirdo." A guy pulled his shirt away exposing him.

They snickered staring him down. "Stop picking on him, don't you know he has a girlfriend?" Yoongi smirked from the other corner.

"No way! You have a girlfriend?" They teased in unison.

Jimin blushed deeply trying to smile as best as he could. "Well, she moved away and—"

"What's her name huh?"

"She's—"

"Where did she move?"

"Well—"

"Are you sure you have a girlfriend? Or is she made up in your mind?" A guy said leaning over him.

"N-no. She's-"

"Tell them her name." Yoongi grinned. He was from across the locker room enjoying every second of it. He was glad Namjoon wasn't here yet to give him a little speech.

"J-Joy."

"Joy?"

Jimin nodded avoiding looking into the guys eyes. He was taller than him and was giving him a look that made him feel so small.

"I think you're lying." He whispered in his ear.

Jimin shook his head no. "I think you are. Don't you think it's suspicious that your supposed girlfriend moved away?"

Yoongi chuckled as he finished eating his piece of candy. "You want to cry when you're pushed to the ground on a basketball game, you wear those stupid shorts up your crotch, and I never see you looking at other girls. You know what that tells me?"

Jimin remained silent. His heart was beating loudly against his ears. He knew where this was leading too. It always started like this.

"He's a fucking loser." Yoongi laughed rolling his eyes. He turned his attention to his locker and pulled out his clothes ignoring them in the back.

"I smell..." the guy sniffed around Jimin. "A fag." He finished. The word made his heart sink to the very bottom of his stomach.

Yoongi turned around confused. "Wait what?"

"We don't like fags."

"I-I'm not-"

"Do you like me being this close to you, you sicko? Do you enjoy this? Is this making your dick hard?"

Jimin's breathing fastened shaking his head no. "Look, he's breathing so fast. I think he's liking it." A guy laughed.

"Please. I don't want trouble." He whispered.

The guy grabbed Jimin's shirt from the floor and shoved it to him knocking the breath out of him.

He had to lean over to get some air. "Faggot." They snickered. Jimin closed his eyes feeling the sweat building up under his arms. His chest was heavy and he felt like he could collapse right then and there.

Before they could say anything else, he put on his shirt and ran out of the locker room leaving his bag on the floor.

"What was that comment for?" Yoongi asked.

"What? He is a fag. You can tell. No other boy acts like him."

"So, now you're going to spread rumors about his sexuality?" Yoongi wondered astonished. Sure, he was an asshole and everything, but to do that? He couldn't.

"Are you defending him now? Weren't you the one picking on him at first?"

"Well, yeah, but only because he's a fucking loser."

"Better watch out since he's your roommate. He might try to-" before he could finish Yoongi grabbed him by the collar harshly. Even though the guy was much taller he was scared of Yoongi.

"You need to watch your mouth."

"I'm kidding. I'm kidding." He replied paranoid.

"You know Yoongi isn't like that. He would never let him close." Another said.

"I won't. I will beat his ass if he tries to." Yoongi stated. He suddenly wished he hadn't brought Jimin's girlfriend up.

What if people thought he was gay too?

•••

"You can now look through your slides and identify the cells." The teacher called.

Jimin sat next to his partner a smile plastered on his face. "Would you like to look first?" He offered.

His partner turn to look at him and didn't reply. He simply took the microscope and a slide.

"Hey, whats your name? I'm Jimin! We've been sitting next to each other for a while and—"

"I don't talk to fags."

Jimin instantly pressed his lips together. He felt himself panic once again. He didn't think the rumors would spread that fast.

It had only been two hours.

He would usually try to speak to him again, but after his comment he didn't dare. Yoongi happened to have this class with him as well.

He sat right behind him next to Hoseok. Yoongi hadn't tried to listen to their conversation.

However, he did hear it. He heard his partners comment and the way Jimin's face instantly dropped.

For the first time, he didn't enjoy this as much.

•••

"Hey,"

Jimin gulped fidgeting with his hands. "Hi-hi Taehyung." He smiled nervously. Taehyung sat next to him on the bench looking at the field.

"Are you taking pictures again?"

"No. I need to get a new film."

"What are you doing here the?"

"I'm just...relaxing."

"You don't look relaxed." He smiled looking down at his hands.

"It's hard to feel that way sometimes." Jimin admitted.

"You still have a smile on your face though."

"I try my best."

"That's good. I really don't want to run."

"Then don't."

"I kind of have to. I'm trying to increase my speed. I do track and soccer."

"Oh, I think you're pretty fast. Faster than me." He giggled.

Taehyung grinned, "Why thank you. My goal is to reach Jungkook's speed. He's our number one runner and I happen to be the second. I don't mind it though. Jungkook is just crazy fast. I think he's a robot."

"He might be. You know there's a theory of like humans being reptiles. So, I don't see why the theory of humans being robots is impossible."

"Thank you! My friends would be like nah you're crazy."

Jimin laughed covering his mouth. He needed this laugh and this talk more than anything in the whole world.

After, Jimin's laugh quietly died he looked at Taehyung who was looking ahead. "Hey, I-I-need to tell you something."

"I'm guessing it's about the rumor going around."

Jimin sighed quietly. He honestly had wished that Taehyung hadn't heard of it. That was remotely impossible. Rumors spread like wildfires and now everyone looked at him like he was wicked.

"If you don't want to speak to me I understand. I don't want to drag you in this." He whispered quietly with his heart throbbing in pain.

The last thing he wanted was to lose, Taehyung. But, he knew that Taehyung could be affected by the rumors.

He knew how cruel and toxic people could get. It was a sensitive subject to everyone in the area.

No one wanted to talk about it. No one wanted to bring it up. No one wanted to be opened mined and just hear someone out.

It was always violence and nasty comments.

And Taehyung didn't deserve that. Taehyung deserved happiness and peacefulness. Jimin knew that their friendship could ruin that for him.

He wasn't selfish to pull him into his misery or to give him his demons. How could he?

"What?" Taehyung snorted.

Jimin blinked several times trying to swallow his emotions back down. "You really think I care about them? Fuck no. They can suck my dick. They won't say shit to me. I'm not trying to brag, but I'm pretty popular here. I honestly don't care what they think about you. You're cool."

Jimin felt like a weight was lifted from his shoulders. He could finally breathe normal again.

"So-so you will still talk to me?"

"Of course. Who else is going to make me dumplings huh?" He teased.

Jimin nodded enthusiastically, "I will! I will make you all the dumplings in the world."

"Woah. That sounds dope as shit. Well, I need to get back to running. I've taken a longer break than expected." He said getting up.

"Sorry for holding you up. I hope your run goes well!"

"Stop apologizing for everything. It's not always your fault. You're so kind to others be kind to yourself too."

Jimin nodded, "Okay. Thank you."

"Sure. And hey, you don't have to explain to anyone your preferences. They need to mind their business. I'm sorry you're going through this. If you need my help I'm here."

Jimin nodded again with a bright eye smile. "You're so kind! Thank you! Thank you!"

"See you around!" He smiled as he started to run.

Jimin watched him jog until he disappeared in the distance. He kind of wished he would've stayed longer. He kind of wished he could keep him by his side at all times.

Because he was the only one that could cut off the battlefield that was in his mind. The only one that could numb his aching and pain.

Taehyung was his only peace.